The CEO of Myer has responded to allegations that new workforce policies could further damage the business.

Employer demand for international graduates in 2011 increased to levels not seen since before the Global Financial Crisis in 2008, according to a new report.

The annual Graduate Outlook Survey by Graduate Careers Australia (GCA) showed a marked increase in the proportion of employers recruiting international graduates, and this was especially pronounced in the communication, technology and utilities sector. Other sectors showing increased graduate hiring included:

Accounting and finance

Manufacturing and construction

Mining and engineering

Executive director of GCA, Dr Noel Edge, said there appeared to be more employment opportunities for international graduates than seen in recent years, and many graduate employers continued to rate employment history as a key element of an applicant’s curriculum vitae.

Indeed all surveyed sectors ranked employment history as the most important aspect of a CV, while accounting and finance ranked ‘academic results’ as an equally important element.

A recent survey by the International College of Management Sydney (ICMS) demonstrated that employers are right to place emphasis on employment history, as out of more than 500 students, some 76% were not confident in their understanding of current workplace environments.

Executive dean of ICMS, Dr Roger Alexander, said hiring graduates with little or no work experience was a dangerous trap, as their poor understanding of the work environment can lead to reduced productivity, and low staff retention. “It is sometimes difficult for employers to appreciate this knowledge gap and to manage the expectations of their junior recruits so they can learn and contribute at an expected level,” Alexander said.